Uniforms Now Part of Padres' Past

SAN DIEGO — When something is dear to a person, he wants to hold on to it until the very last moment.

Perhaps that's the way the Padres felt about their brown and gold uniforms, affectionately called tacos, during Sunday afternoon's 2-2 tie with the Minnesota Twins.

The Padres final appearance in their taco uniforms lasted 3 hours and 22 minutes after both managers agreed to call the exhibition game at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

For the season opener at San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon, the Padres will don their new gray with brown pinstriped road uniforms. Six days later, they'll wear white uniforms with brown pinstripes in their home opener.

By then, all the players from last year's National League championship team will have chosen the old home or road uniform they wish to keep.

Ray Peralta, Padre equipment manager, said he already has given uniforms to Doug Gwosdz, Ron Roenicke and Greg Harris, players from last season, who are no longer with the team.